Days before the World Trade Organization’s biennial ministerial meeting begins in Argentina, discussions on having a global agreement to regulate e-commerce is beginning to emerge as a key issue despite strong resistance from countries such as India.

On Tuesday, WTO director general Roberto Azevedo announced that he will be appointing ‘minister facilitators’ to work with sectoral chairs and identified agriculture, development, rules, e-commerce and services for the special focus. The statement indicates that these would be the key themes on which the over 160 members will have to focus, although the former Brazilian ambassador to WTO also kept the option of other issues such as MSME and investment facilitation open.

Within the focus areas where the five facilitators will take charge, a key concern for India is e-commerce. This is because the government believes that the definition is unclear and the proposals encompass a wide range of issues related to information technology and limits the ability of developing and least developed countries in evolving policies.

Reports by governmentbacked Centre for WTO Studies at the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade suggest that based on the proposals, the government may find its hands tied in ordering open source software. Similarly, many countries may find it tough to insist on localisation of servers or even offer preferential treatment for domestically sourced raw material. Sources said that the government’s insistence on allocating telecom spectrum or radio waves only to Indian companies may also go away if some of the proposals put forward find their way.

Indian officials said the idea is to control data flows, reduce the ability of governments to regulate companies such as Amazon, Google and Alibaba and erect barriers to the entry of new players.

Jayant Dasgupta, India’s former ambassador to WTO, was also critical about attempts to get an issue on the negotiating table at the last minute when there was no clarity during discussions in Geneva. “You have to be very specific in seeking a new mandate and it is not fair to seek an approval at the last minute as was done with trade facilitation in Bali (ministerial meeting). This is a not a negotiating ministerial, so everything should be ready before you leave Geneva,” he said. Dasgupta said that the 27 proposals on the table had overlaps and the stands need to be clear. “Proponents have to come forward with studies and analysis on it will affect all (WTO) members and global trade and not look at it from their narrow prism,” he added. The European Union, Japan, Korea, Singapore and Pakistan are the main drivers of the proposal although there seems to be support from the US. But with India and some members from Africa opposing the move, experts predict an uphill battle in Buenos Aires.

“An attempt is being made to elevate e-commerce into greater prominence at the ministerial meeting. This does not bode well for developing countries like India and many African countries as they will have to fight a tough battle to prevent a negotiating mandate,” said Abhijit Das, who heads the Centre for WTO Studies.